I would very much appreciate any comments about this one. There's one for sale and I suspect it may be quite different from what I had (Locost Blade), so any hints on quality and reliability of the model and engine would be very helpful.

For a start, do you know if there's a Striker ZX9R chassis as such or it's likely a custom build (chassis was adapted)?

Do you know the different models of ZX9R that may have been made through the years of manufacture? (for instance, the Blades are the just-under 900cc and the just-over 900cc, and everything relates to the catalytic converter and so on I seem to remember).

Cheers,

Alex

Forgot: It features stuff I'm not familiar with: Quaiffe 3.54 LSD, what type of rear suspension should it be then? It's not mentioned. It has 13" wheels, my Blade had 15" with a Cortina diff (don't know the ratio, Jon?). Should I expect a lot of difference? I'm not sure I could do with a decrease in top speed from what I had, it just screams!

Cheers,

Alex

Hi Alez

Im building a ZX9R powered Indy.

If you know the engine number I should be able to date it for you out of the haynes manual. Or if you know which model of bike it came from, they are a letter number combination after the ZX9R ie mine is a ZX9RE1

But anyway 900cc very similar to the Blade but recon its got a better gearbox (Dons hat and heads for cover)

The Striker is a kit I think made by RAW Engineering have a look on their website

HTH Gordon

Stirker is made by Sylva i think.

Not sure if they do a bespke ZX9 chassis, probably a custom cradle to fit the chassis.

Check out
www.sylva-sportscar-register.co.uk

I thought raw engineering were the Toyota 4age/striker chaps. or maybe they build all the strikers now?

Look at www.rawengineering.co.ukI couldnt be arsed to check it out! so who know i may be talking guff......again.

I think Sylva sold the manufacturing rights to RAW about a year ago, as they did to ST with the Pheonix.
The Striker is a very good chassis with better front suspension design than a Locost (or Westfield etc). The body is narrower than a Locost though, not a car for the wide of hip (keeps fat passengers out I guess ).
If its a 3.54 then it should be a live axle as they didnt make that ratio for the Sierra diff. The Quaife LSD is a good thing to have, and they are pretty robust and quiet in operation unlike some plate LSD. With that diff, assuming something like 205/60-13" tyres, then it is probably going to be a little lower geared than average due to the ZX9's gearbox, which although is meant to be nicer to use, is lower geared than a blade. From the gear ratios spreadsheet I'd say it will top out at a smidge under 120mph at 12k in top which probably isnt a lot lower than the Isonblade TBH.

Chris

In reality this car will top out nearer 110. I've got the same diff ratio, with 15" rims, and I get about 109 in top, but then the Digidash may be calibrated to read a little under.

As cars I've heard they are pretty good, the whole package will probably feel very similar to the Isonblade (may she rest in peace) though maybe not quite as fast (though you prabably wont notice the difference. The LSD will mean you've got less chance of repeating the same mistake as last time!

If the engine number reads ZX900E, then it's the later (post 2000) engine with the stronger gearbox. If It's 900CE it's the year before.

Good stuff as usual, thanks for the useful replies. At least I see there's nothing inherently wrong with these, good chassis, good engine. I'm not concerned about it being narrow, I'm a tiny wee guyOh, I have confirmed it is actually a live axle. The guy claims a top speed of about 120 mph, so it may be not too uncomfortable at a more reasonable speed.

I wanted to check because I've heard things like "Blackbirds go bang, Blades don't", since the ZX9R is less common than the Blade I was thinking maybe it's not the best option. Also, the most common chassis options seem to be MK and Stuart Taylor more than Striker I think.

The home for the Striker is:
http://www.rawengineering.co.uk/our_cars.html
It looks like they don't have the ZX9R as standard (like say MK have adopted the Blade and do them as turnkeys).

Many thanks!

Apparently, it's a 1999 "C2", whatever that means, I suppose that's the "old and weak" gearbox.

Cheers,

Alex

The engine number is ZX900CE026629KH1, would you be so kind to look for the age?

Also, do you know if the engine is OK for unleaded? I've been told so..

Cheers,

Alex

I'd say from Jasper's earlier post that its one of the slightly weaker gearboxes but Im no ZX9 expert, but dont let that put you off as its by no means made of chocolate! It will be fine with unleaded too, any engine after early-mid 1990's had to be able to use unleaded / super unleaded as thats all thats available a lot of the time.

The reason you've probably heard less about the Striker is because its not a Locost derived car like the MK and ST, so won't get discussed much on here. The Striker has been around for far longer than the Locost though, and is more established and well known in the kit car market than any of the Locost derived cars so dont be put off just because you've not heard of them talked about much on here.
Have a look on this site for info on a BEC Striker, albeit an R1 engine'd car.

Chris

If I was looking for a fun kit car at this moment I would seriously consider the Striker - it's neat and functional, and has a very good reputation on the race track.

David

Aez - don't worry, the ZX9 is a great engine, and the gearbox is fine as long as you don't abuse it changing down to hard

quote:

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Originally posted by David Jenkins
If I was looking for a fun kit car at this moment I would seriously consider the Striker - it's neat and functional, and has a very good reputation on the race track.

David

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You are so nice, always telling me what I want to hear!!! Yes the gearbox should be fine, this one features a "Baily Morris tube-in-a-tube custom propshaft", the guy says this makes gear shifts much smoother. I was very impressed by the R1 Striker for sale, BTW.

Cheers,

Alex

The Bailey Morris prop is also known as a TRT - basically its one tube inside another with the gap inbetween filled with rubber. This rubber absorbs some of the shock out of the driveline and is supposed to make gearchanges a bit slicker, but Ill be honest and say that Ive not noticed much of a difference between cars Ive driven with and without them, so don't expect miracles.
The R1 Striker is a gorgeous car, Rich did a great job in building it and it was very quick and light, the only annoying thing is that I never got round to taking up his offer of a drive before he flogged it

Chris

After having owned a Moto Guzzi 1000SP (twin 500cc x 2) for some years and then the Locost Blade, I find the Blade gearbox veeery smooth really!!

BTW, I've noticed that the front wheels in a Locost are very much where the car starts (nosecone) while in the Striker they are much further to the rear. Comparing the mainfolds it looks to me like the engines are roughly located in the same position with respect to the wheels which is the important thing but I was wondering if the Striker overall length is probably quite a lot more, or maybe the driver gets less space? I wonder how the overall lengths and distance between wheels / axles compare.

Strange, maybe it's because they were designed with a much different car engine in mind?

Cheers,

Alex

if you have any worries about the ZX9 engine, talk to Chris at Z-Cars - he's a great (but busy!) bloke and has vast experience with this engine.

Steve.

Thanks Steve.